Sony guts HX5V 10x megazoom, results in H55
Joining the HX5V in the company's longzoom lineup is the H55; same body, less features, and a lower price.
Yay. Another compact megazoom on the market. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V impressed us at CES 2010 with its 10x zoom, wide-angle Sony G lens, backside-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor, built-in GPS, and 1080p movie capture with a stereo mic--all inside a compact, pocketable body. The H55 is its less capable linemate.
Basically, most of the good stuff has been taken out except for the lens and its body with 3-inch LCD. The H55 features a 14-megapixel CCD, a 720p movie mode with mono sound, optical image stabilization with Sony's Active Mode for smoother video while walking, and a version of the company's Sweep Panorama mode, which isn't as good as the version on the Cyber-shots using Sony's Exmor R sensor. It also takes Memory Stick Pro Duo cards and SD/SDHC cards.
So, no, it's not nearly as exciting as the HX5V, but at least it's $100 cheaper at $250. It will be available in black and silver versions in April.